Title
Thermal decomposition of cellulose insulation
Authors
PETER RANTUCH and TOMAS CHREBET

Received August 27, 2013
Published Volume 48 Issue 5-6 May-June
Keywords thermogravimetry, thermal insulation, cellulose, density

Abstract
The article focuses on the behaviour of cellulose insulation during thermal load. The tested samples were stressed by heating rate of 5 °C.min-1, as well as isothermally at temperatures of 210 °C, 250 °C, 295 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C. The mass loss of the samples was observed. It is obvious from the measured values that the decomposition of cellulose insulation begins at the temperature of 250-260 °C. The values of the peaks of mass loss rate, as well as the temperatures of reaching 95% and 30% of the mass of the samples, confirm that the decomposition rate of cellulose insulation is affected by its own density in the first phase. A similar dependence was also determined for the mass loss of carbonaceous residue. Based on the measured data, linear equations, which describe the dependence of temperatures of reaching the above mentioned states on the density of the samples, were determined.